Stamp-affixing machine.



H. HDDA. STAM? AFFIXNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 190s. I Ij Q HABRA.

we AH F El MGHINE.

APPLICATION Fli ED x L AY 14. i908.

IIHHHHHMV- r I l wail/265565 E. HADIDA.

STAM? AE'IXIHG MAGHEE.

AEPLIGATIOH FILED in u. 190s.

, HIHHIHIW ,Wil

ff- Eff f' p www O @www Application tiled May le, 196%.

[o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Hablar Hanlon, a. subject ot the King of England, and resident ot London, England, nierchant, have invented a certainnev: and useful Stainp-i'iix- .ing lilachine, oitl which the following' is a full, clear, and exact description.

rihis invention has reference to an iinproved machine for aliixing stamps, labels and the like.

lhe niachine is ot that kind especially intended for detaching and aiiixing a postage slainp to a letter or postal packet at one operation, and in which the operating device is plunger which shears oil troni a strip, iuoistens and aHixes the stanip on the dor-In- Vward stroke and on the upvvard stroke i-eeds toru'a rd the stamp strip so that a new stanip is in position to be sheared. Such a inachine is described in prior patent specification lio. Sbllt) dated .firugust 13th 190i'.

The present invention has reterence to an improved construction ot such ay n1a chine to render more certain its correct working and to provide features and conibinations ot parts 'which Will hcreinatter be set forth.

rthe invention is illustrated upon the ac cenipanying drawings, in wnich Figure Ylfis a trent elevation ot the niachine in its easing. Fig. L) is an elevation et one side ot' the inachine alone. Fig. il is an elevation otl the other side. Figs, l and 5 are perspective vie rs ot' the curved shield and the piu pro-vided toed roller. Fig. G is a sectional elevation ot the dashpot dei big. T is a, view ot' the enacting shearing blades. VFig'. 8 is a sectional detail or' a part ot' the plunger L and its guide. Figs. et. T and S are drawn to an enlarged scaleA 'The stamps c, are Wound in a continuous .strip upon a drinn b and are ted forward by a feed roller d niounted on a spindle (.Z on which are fixed a ratchet ivheel ff and a locking wheel s. The spindle d is shown supported in brackets d secured to a suitable upright ot the niachine. The stamps are impressed by the doun stroke ot a plunger /c Working in a socket the depression et this plunger serves to shear oil the toreinost stainp ot the strip, to nioisten the gunnned side of the pad rw. On the return stroke ot the plunger a paivl u carried thereon lifts the lever u having a catch u engaged in a notch in the lockingl `Wheel s, and

Vlrlar. 239, 19M?.

a second pawl t carried at the end ot a. long stein t engages the ratchet Wheel r to advance the stanip strip by the length ot one stan'ip. rlhe lever yu is then released and the spindle d" locked in its nenrv position by the. engagement oli the tooth n in the next notch. The two pawls 'e are pressed. foru'ard by a pair otl flat. springs te. "ifhe construction and Working or these are inore fully set forth in iny prior patent specification o. 863169 dated iicugust 13th 190i'. The plunger 7c oi' the apparatus is provided with a. dashpot device to retard the action of the return or feeding stroke of the oiierating plunger. v'ihis dashpot in the. example illustrated takes the torni ot an air chai'nber m fitted ivith a piston reciprocablc therein and having a suitable valve 2". llhe piston is preferably connected to the plunger ,7c and the air chanibe" or cylinder m iitted to Sonie iixed part et the apparatus such as the guide y' tor the plunger 7c.

The feed roller Z which is rotatively operated by the return of the plunger /a in the manner above described, is i'nilled or knurled at its periphery and is grooved circuinterentially With any desired nuniber oit plain grooves (Z2. rllhis' roller d is approximately ot' the width oii the stamp strip aand it is provided with roivs ot' pins c on its knurled peripliery at distances apart corresponding With the perforations between the stainps. These pins c are preferably concd or pointed at their extremities, having plain or cylindrical shanks Where they stand out radially troni the feed roller d. Suitable iiat or curved springs B are adapted to bear attheir free ends within the plain grooves t'ornied circiunierentially in the feed roller d, the other ends ot these springs being fixed to a stationary part ot the apparatus such as the fixed blade oit Athe shearing device, and these springs serve as guides to divertthe torcinost. stanip or stainps troni the roller (Z and to lead the foremost stamp to the shear* ing device.

rlhe feed roller (Z, the plunger )t or seine othe portion of the operating mechanism of the machine may be provided with a locking device to prevent the strip troni being accidentally7 inoved or jerked either backward or forward when the plunger is being depressed or operated; such a locking device would be ailier-ded by a separate ratchet and pawl contrivance on the axle or periphery of the feed roller or an equivalent device on depressible loo the plunger. 1n the drawings 1 have shown a simple frictional rod or bearing pin 0 on which the periphery of the drum b rests, see Fig. The weight of this drum is therefore supported by the pin c instead of at the axle bearing.

The shearing device which is operated in any ordinary manner consists of a blade z' fixed on the socket y' for the plunger /U' and a blade z" secured on the plunger L and these blades are preferably curved or undulated to facilitate the shearing of the stamps, as shown in F ig. 7. A shield or guide if curved to the contour of the feed roller (Z is adjustably mounted in position so as to maintain the stamp close against the feed roller, and this curved shield is grooved to correspond with the radial pins e on the roller. lVhere the stamp strip leaves the roller it passes between an extension f" from the shield f approximately tangential to the roller, and the aforesaid spring arms B lying in the roller grooves. This guide shield f may be held in a slide in the wall C of the apparatus or, as shown, be fitted with a thumb-screw g traveling in a slot in said wall C.

The pads p for moistening the underside of the stamp are pivoted upon an extension j from the plunger socket j or upon another suitable part of the apparatus and are weighted on their outer ends so that the inner ends 29 are approximately horizontal. Stops shown in the form of pins (i2 are provided to prevent their inner ends 719 rising above this horizontal position and these ends are furnished with flourishing flax or thread pads; these pads j) are kept moistened by a wick or similar device g which by capillary attraction will supply water to the pads and the wick or strands thereof is (or are) continued into the hollow base D of the apparatus. The wick or strands g may be incased in a tube D between the pad p and the hollow base D. The base is provided with a stopper or filling' hole y through which it may be filled with water or the like.

1n the path of the plunger le and adapted to register with a longitudinal slot 7a therein is a smooth and slightly tapered tongue Z a little above the cutting blades i' a" and opposite thereto, the object of which is to prevent the foremost stamp from curling upward, The base of the plunger adjacent to the cutting' blade carried thereby is provided with the usual needles or pins 7a2 which serve to impale the stamp and subsequently withdraw into the plunger before the stamp is actually impressed on the letter laid on the pad to.

A counting or recording device a is shown fitted to the apparatus adjacent to the plunger lv. This counter is provided with a suitable crank arm a secured to the operative spindle of the counter and the lifting of this crank arm a increases the total shown on the counter by one. 1n the example illustrated 1 have represented at a a counter of the "Veedei"7 type, but other suitable forms of counter may be employed. pin projecting from this crank rm engages in a slotted link 0 connected with the plunger j so that on the return of the plunger the arm l11, is raised and the recorded number increased by one unit. The pin engaging the slotted link 0 is shown as a screw a?.

rThe improved apparatus is shown in Fig. l inclosed in a box or casing A which may be of any suitable character.

1 have described the invention as carried out for postage stamp strips supplied to the feed roller from a charged reel or spool; but the invention may also be used for labels, perforated or otherwise, or for strips of material which it is desired to afl/ix or impress upon articles placed below the plunger.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as such and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. it machine for aflixing stamps, labels and the like, comprising a closed base forming a water reservoir, a depressible plunger, a guide for said plunger, means for shearing oft the foremost stamp from a strip of stamps, means for moistening and affixing the sheared stamp, said moistening means including pads and wicks leading thereto from the reservoir in said base, means for feeding' forward the stamp strip, said means operated by Jthe forward and return movements of the depressible plunger, and a dashpot device to retard the action of the return stroke of said plunger.

Q. A machine for aftixing stamps, labels and the like, comprising a closed base forming a water reservoir, a depressible plunger, a guide for saidplunger, means for shearing off the foremost stamp from a strip of stamps, means for moistening and aftixing the sheared stamp, said moistening means including pads and wicks leading thereto from the reservoir in said base, means for feeding forward the stamp strip, said means operated b v the forward and return movements of the depressible plunger, an air cylinder secured to the plunger guide, and a piston reciprocable in said air chamber, said piston having a rod connected to the depressible plunger.

3. A machine for attixing stamps, labels and the like, comprising an operative plunger, a guide for said plunger, a strip of stamps wound on a drum, means for guiding said stamp-strip and insuring its register. means for diverting the foremost stamp of the strip, means for shearing off the foremost stamp of said strip, said shearing means operated by the forward motion of the plunger, a device for moistening the underside of the stamp, a. base inclosing a Water reservoir and moisture feeding` ineans leading frein said reservoir into said inoistening devices, said stainp being aliined by the continued forward stroke ot the plunger and ineans for feeding` forward the stainp strip, said feeding ineaiis operated by the return stroke oin the plunger.

et. A inachine i'or atiixing stainps, labels and the like, comprisingl a plunger, a guide 'for said plunger, said guide .inounted on the base of the inachiiie, a revoluble drinn, a feed roller, i'eg'istei'in` devices provided on said t'eed roller, adapted to engage said stainp strip, ineans for guiding' and diveitingl the foremost oit said stamps, a shearing device operated by the plunger, a reservoir iter liquid in the base` or the inachine, dainpine` pads pivotej upon the inacliine in the path of the plunger, ineans tor supplying' said pads with liquid trein said reservoir, and ineaiis toi' teedino' t'orivard the stainp strip.

5, fr machine rer atliriing stainps, labels and the like, comprising an operative plunger, a guide ttor said plunge a revoluble drinn, a feed-roller, said roller having' tering' devices adapted to engage sa'd stainp.

xstrip, said roller operated by the return niotion of the plunger, a shearing device oper ated by the plunger, ineans tor iinvisteniiig` the underside oil the stamp, tongue projecting troni said guide iinniediately above the shearingl device so as to prevent the tore most stamp troni curling upward, and means tor 'feeding torvvard the stamp strip.

t'. ln a inachinc ot the class described, the combination ot' a plunger, oit a guide for said plunger, ot' a feed roller having a inilled periphery and grooved cii'euintcrcntially, said rolle' also having pins 'projcolin.;l radially troni its periphery and engaging` the stanip strip to insure .its register, springs beai'inlgi` at one end in the grooves in said roller, the other end ot said springs being fixed to a stationary part of the niaehine, said springs serving as guides to divert the toi'en'iost strip, and said iteed roller being actuated by the return stroke ot the plunger.

7. ln a inachine of the class described, the combination ot a plunger, a `ajuiile 'tor said plunge said guide being inoiinted on the base or the machine., ay toed roller having pins engaging with and registering` a stamp strip, a shield curved to and opposite to said feed roller, said shield being' grooved to correspond with said roller pins, stainp inoistening` devices, ineans :tor detaeliing the t'oreniost stainp troni the strip, and ineans for preventing' the toreinost stainp troni curling upward by reason ot its projecc'ing over the nioistening devices.

8. ln a inachine or the class described, the combination oit an operative plunger. a guide for said plunger, ineans for feeding' torivard a stainp strip, a shearing device operated by the plunger and adapted to cut oit the tore inost ot' said stainps, dainping pads pivoted on t e plunger guide and in the path ot the i linger, said pads being' prevented troni risiuh above the horizontal :it their facing inner ends, a liquid reservoir in the base ot the nnichine and means including' Wicks leading 'troni said reservoir to said pads toi' automatically damping' said iads bv capillary attraction troni said reservoir.

9. ln a inacliine ot the class described, the combination of an operative plunge". a guide toi' said plunger, a shearing' device actuated by said plunger,v ineans tor feeding ttorvvard a stamp strip, displaceable inoistening pads on which the toreinost stanip is iinpressed by the plunger, and ineans toi' preventing the toreniost stainp troni curling upward by reason of its inpjecting' over a nioist surt'acc.

l0. In a. inachiiie ot the class described, the combination or an operative plunger, a guide tor said pl anger7 a revolubl-e drinn on ivhieh a stainp strip is wound, a toed roller having radial. pins adapted to engage and insure the register ot said stanip strip, said roller haviiii` peripheral grooves, spring ai'nis bearing' in said grooves, said roller bcing operated by the return stroke ot the ilunp'er. and a lockingor brakingdevice 'tor preventing' the accidental inoveincnt ot ill-e rev-oluble druni.

ll.. in a machine of the character dcscribed, the combination ot' a depi'cssible plunger, guide therefor, said guide beine' .mounted on the base of the machine. a revoliiblc drinn, a feed roller having' devices to engage a stainp strip, said roller being,v operated by the return motion ot' the plunger` and an air cylinder secured to said guide, a. piston connected to said plunger and opcrating in said cylinder, said piston having an opening through it and a valve controlling' said opening', and said piston allordinpl a daslrpot action toi' the return inoveinent et the plunger,

l2. n a inachine oi the clues described, the combination of a depressible pl linger. a guide :tor said plunger. said guide carried by the base of the inachiiie, a revoluble drun'i inounted on said inaehin-e, a teed roller liavinte` radial pins, said i'oller operated by the return stroke of the plunger, an undulated shearing blade operated by said plunger, a fixed undulated blade (1o-acting' ivith the iii'st-nained blade and a brake device for preventing the accidental jerking of said. revoluble druin.

13. n a inacliine of the class described, the combination et a plunger,l a lruilde for said plunger` a drinn Whereon a stainp strip is Wound, a'teed roller, radial pins on the periphery of said roller to engage said stainp strip, peripheral grooves in roller, spring arins bearing,- in said grooves and projecting` frein a stationary part of the inachine, a curved shield arranged about said roller periphery, a movable shearing blade of undulated shape, mechanism for operating said blade actuated by said plun` ger, a fixed undulated blade co-acting with the movable blade, and means for part-ly rotating the feed roller by the return movement of the plunger.

l. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a guide for said plunger, a drum whereon a stamp strip is. wound, a feed roller, radial pins on the periphery of said roller to engage said stamp strip, peripheral grooves in said roller, spring arms bearing in said grooves and projecting' from a lixed part of the machine, a curved shield to hold the stamp strip against the roller, said shield being adjustable as to position, said spring arms serving afterward to divert the said strip from said roller, a shearing' device operated by the plunger, means for intermittently rotating the feed roller on the return of the plunger, displacrable damping pads arranged in the path of the plunger below the shearing device, said pads pivoted in the plunger guide and adapted to remain normally in a horizontal position, a hollow base to the machine, a reservoir for liquid in said base, and communication between said reservoir and said damping pads.

l5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a guide for said plunger, a drum whereon a stamp strip is wound, a feed roller. radial pins on the periphery of said roller to engage said stamp strip, peripheral grooves, in said roller, spring arms bearing in said grooves and projecting from a fixed part of the machine, a curved shield to hold the stamp strip against the roller, said shield being adjustable as to position, said spring arms serving afterward to divert the said strip from said roller, a shearing device operated by the plunger, means for intermittently rotating the feed roller on the return of the plunger, displaceable damping pads arranged in the path of the plunger below the shearing device, said pads pivoted in the plunger guide and adapted to remain normally in a horizontal position, a hollow base to the machine, a reservoir for liquid in said base, a wick between said reservoir and said pads, and a brake device bearing upon the periphery7 of said drum to prevent the accidental movement of the drum and stamp strip.

1G. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a g'uide for said plunger, a drum whereon a stamp strip is wound, a feed roller, radial pins on the periphery of said roller to engage said stamp strip, peripheral grooves in said roller, spring arms bearing in said grooves and projecting from a fixed part of the machine, a curved shield to hold the stamp strip against the roller, said shield being' adjustable as to position, said spring arms serving afterward to divert the said strip from said roller, a shearing device operated by the plunger, means for intermittently rotating the feed roller on the return of the plunger, displaceable damping pads arranged in the path of the plunger below the shearing device, said pads pivoted in the plunger guide and adapted to remain normally in a horizontal position, a hollow base to the machine, a. reservoir for liquid in said base, a wiclt between said reservoir and said pads, a brake device bearing against the periphery of the said drum, and a dashpot device to retard the return stroke of the plunger.

1T. in a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a guide for said plunger, a drum whereon a stamp strip is wound, a feed roller, radial pins on the periphery of said roller to engage said stamp strip, peripheral grooves vin said roller, spring arms bearing in said grooves and projecting from a iixed part of the machine, a curved shield to hold the stamp strip against the roller, said shield being adjustable as to position, said spring arms serving afterward to divert the said strip from said roller, a shearing device operated by the plunger, means for intermittently rotating the feed roller on the return of the plunger. displaceable damping pads arranged in the path of the plunger below the shearing device, said pads pivoted in the plunger guide and adapted to remain normally in a horizontal position, a hollow base to the machine, a reservoir for liquid in said base, a wick between said reservoir and said pads, a brake device bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a dashpot device to retard the return stroke of the plunger, and a tongue projecting from the plunger guide into a slot in the plunger, said tongue standing normally above the displaceable damping pads and adapted to prevent the foremost stamp of the strip from curling up iard.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY HADIDA.

lVitnesses Vieron F. FEENY, CYRIL J. FEENY. 

